HELP! ARE YOU LISTENING?

LIFE MATTERS 57 comments

Hey friends, how are you doing today? I suppose it could be worse, right? Don’t you hate, when that’s said after you’ve shared how you felt? I don’t always enjoy answering that question, because I’ve found most people aren’t interested in the answer.  What if I said I’m not okay today; are you willing to listen? We’re a short answer, please, community.  Time is really a priceless commodity, that most times, we aren’t willing to share, plus I have to tell you all about me.   There isn’t enough time for the two of us, so let this time be about me.  Hey friends, how are you today? I’ll listen, but first…james-1-19Listening is skill that has to be taught, did you know that? Just like every skill, some people are better at it, than others. Most of us have to practice this skill. There are two sides of me, the talker and the quiet.  The ‘quiet’ usually means, no one in their right mind, should be talking to me, right now. And of, course the ‘talker is obvious. There really isn’t any room in there to listen, is there? Don’t worry, most people fall into that category too. Even in the silence, you know you aren’t listening.  At the time, there are a million things going through your mind, of activities that need to be completed and events you are preparing for; who has the time!Ps 5 3My God is amazing; He is the best Listener in my circle, even better than my sweet husband.  I could see him getting cross eyed after a while (I really don’t talk THAT much).  But the Lord, He sticks with me, He listens and listens and listens. I’ve realized something throughout the years, the Lord likes to talk too.  Did you realize that too? He speaks, primarily through His Word, but He also uses people, nature, events and several other avenues to speak. Usually, people vie to give advice before listening to WHOLE story, but God, He waits and then He tells me where to find the perfect solution to my circumstance. james 1 2I remember, early on in our marriage, I would tell Him all about Benny’s faults and everything wrong he did.  I would remind him that He blessed our union, so now, how was He going to fix Him. Because clearly, he needed fixing, I was just perfect.  Of course, after listening to me vent, He told me I was not AS perfect as I thought. I told you, I’m not that great of a listener, so it took a few years to get through.    The beauty of it is that He is teaching me to listen.  I’m still a better ‘talker’ than a listener, but I’m getting there.

Hey friends, how are you today?

How would you rate your listening skills? I’m sure there’s room for improvement.

Let’s keep in touch; follow my Facebook page here or find me on Instagram here.

closing1brenda

 

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57 comments

  1. ‘I’ve realized something throughout the years, the Lord likes to talk too. Did you realize that too? He speaks, primarily through His Word, but He also uses people, nature, events and several other avenues to speak. Usually, people vie to give advice before listening to WHOLE story, but God, He waits and then He tells me where to find the perfect solution to my circumstance.’ ….love, love, love this truth!! Thank you so much for sharing. This is what God needed me to see this evening 🙂

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  5. Some days my listening skills are spot on and other days they require a great deal of mindfulness to activate. We are all works in progress right? We have allowed technology to infect our listening & communication skills. How I feel badly for the youth coming up today, losing social graces to the screen.

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  6. Brenda, I love this post and you are right…the silences are often the problem as well as the interruptions. Harder to identify yourself if you’re a silent “interrupter”. My mind is always running, and I may be really paying attention and then….(drift…). You beautifully noted that our Lord is always communicating with us if we have ears to hear. Bible study, when I have something on my mind…(drift….). I’m really working on that here lately—listening to the Word with a Mary’s heart, totally enwrapt in *His* heart instead of my own static. Great post! Thank you!

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    1. I absolutely love this comment. ❤️❤️ I spoke to the Lord about this very ‘drifting’ and ‘wondering’ this morning. I want to do better at listening. Praise the Lord, I’m not where I used to be, that I do know I’m far from where I should be.

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  7. Thank you. But I see so many of us making the mistake thinking they are perfect. We all fall short, we all make mistakes. It’s easier to find fault about someone else than to look at ourselves. And I do well when listening to others. Listen to what the person is saying. It really does help. God will always help direct us on the right path.

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  8. You ask questions I don’t want to answer. *smirk* I don’t really like being asked how I am because usually I’m struggling, and it’s the same old story. Sometimes I’ll dread the question because like you said, does anyone really want to know the answer. God indeed is a good listener. And He does indeed speak! Often for me it’s through nature or song and definitely through others. Your post was speaking to me too. 🙂 Thanks for sharing! ❤

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  9. So many times people ask “how are you” as only words – a greeting, but not really a sincere question. In those times I have been tempted to say something like “My house just burned down, my dog got run over and my husband ran off with the neighbor” to see if they were really even listening. Tempted – but never have done so.

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  12. I find that listening is a mutual endeavor. As one of my pastors says, “They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I someone will not listen to you, you are not apt to really engage to listen to them and visa-versa. Listen first, then expect to be listened to, then listen more. It is a matter of trust.

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  13. I’m listening Brenda. I talked often. I processed externally thinking my wife Sue if 20 years was on the same journey and was interested. But in recent days Sue decided we are so different she is tired and stressed by my obsession with Jesus that we are better off apart. Pray even at the 11th hour God would change her heart and my mind and cause our reunification in some amazing way. 💜🕊🙌

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  19. Great post, and one we need to LISTEN to! 😁 This part: “He speaks, primarily through His Word, but He also uses people, nature, events and several other avenues to speak.” I always listen to Him through your posts, Brenda, and so blessed to hear His voice speaking to my heart that way.

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  20. Yes, there’s always room for improvement. I’m a good listener, thing is – when I need someone to listen, they usually don’t just listen to me but over shadow what I’m saying and talk about what’s going on with them….sigh…(guess that’s the life of an encourager…lol)

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  22. “the Lord likes to talk too”… BOY!…do I EVER know that one. Sometimes I get caught up in the trap of cutting in the conversation before the other has time to unload. On a scale I use to be a “0”…then I graduated to a “1”. Now I’m a lot wiser -5½👈😊. My point as in yours…learning to listen. Getting better in my young age..67+. SHALOM sister 😇

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  24. I like to think I’m pretty good listener. Although, I can readily admit that sometimes I am distracted by all those other thoughts running through my head. Here’s to working on actually focusing, being present, and LISTENING! 🙂 God Bless! Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂

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      1. Glad you have been having a good time with your girls! 🙂 Yes, we are in the last trimester….last couple of weeks actually. I am doing ok, just trying not to be impatient and remember that babies come when they are ready…easier said than done, lol! Thank you for asking, God Bless!!

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  26. I have a particular co-worker – an older man who lives alone and doesn’t have a family or much friends. I enjoy going to him just to listen and I can see his excitement when he talks. Still, I have some room to grow here.

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